Author Archives: Christina Hoover

Reuse Your Fabric Scraps To Create Beautiful Headbands

Once you have finished a sewing project, there will be lots of scrap material lying around. Do you feel bad throwing away all that fabric? Well actually ,just a few moments of creativity can help you use all those scrap materials .There are so many ways you can convert these into day to day essentials like headbands etc. These are also fun projects for little tailors who are waiting for a turn at the sewing machine.

What you will need for a headband:-

2 rectangular shaped cotton, silk or satin fabric 7 ½ by 17 inches
An elastic band which is 6 inches long
1 strip of fabric to be used as the elastic casing 1 by 10 inches in length
Thread of desired color

To start off, place the rectangle pieces of fabric straight and mark the centre. Stitch 1.5 inch from the middle towards each direction. After you finish you will have 3 inches of fabric stitched at the middle. Repeat this with the other rectangle piece also.

Now open the seams and turn the rectangle pieces inside out and stitch them together to form a longer piece. You will have a small opening in the middle.
Now you have to prepare the elastic band casing.
The elastic band is 6 inches and so sew the casing as per the measurement of the elastic band. Gently insert the elastic band into the casing. Sew it and secure the band.

Now insert this elastic band casing into the space of the opening of the rectangular pieces which you have stitched together. Sew this carefully making sure that you are not exposing the elastic band. The raw edges should not be seen. The fabric on top of the band should not be wider than the band itself.

Once this is also done, you have with you a stylish headband which has taken only around 15 minutes to complete.

More info @ www.nadelfrau.com

How To Choose A Suitable Sewing Machine?

The tricky part when buying almost any electrical appliance is choosing and deciding which model you need. This calls for careful consideration of your requirement. The same applies to buying a suitable sewing machine. You just cannot go ahead and buy the model available in the shop. There are a few essential things you need to consider before purchasing the unit.

Are you a Beginner?
If you are getting started with tailoring, go in for a basic mechanical model with knobs. Do not go for the digital display ones until you are sure you want to continue stitching .As and when you gain experience and confidence you can always move to more advanced ones.

Space available for the unit
You should always determine where you are going to place your sewing machine. Buy one that will fit this space. If you have a fixed space in mind, take the dimensions of this and check it at the shop. If there is no fixed space available and you will have to put it away when not in use, consider where you will be storing it .See that the machine will fit into this space too.

Once you get better at stitching and you have decided to make it a routine, upgrade to a computerized one with different stitching options.

The Perfect Rotary Cutter- Do You need One or Not?

Only a dressmaker will know how important her rotary cutter is to her. It is difficult for a tailor to imagine working without a rotary cutter. There are a few tips which can help you buy the perfect one!

Size
These cutters come in many sizes and styles. The most commonly used blades are in the sizes given below:-
· 18mm,
· 28mm,
· 45mm,
· 60mm

Cutting mat

Yes, you are looking for a rotary cutter, however a mat which heals when you cut using the cutter is an absolute requirement. 36″ x 24″ sized mat will do just fine for most tailoring projects.

Rulers
You will need a non-slip ruler to hold along with the rotary cutter. This will aid in attaining perfection while cutting the pattern.

These rotary cutters have to be handled very safely. Make sure you secure the blade when not in use. While handling this, your hand, arm and wrist should be in a straight line. Though this is a personal preference, this position will relieve you of pain and discomfort

Try not to cut towards your body. While in a hurry, you will be safe if this is being practiced. There are chances of cutting yourself when you have the habit of cutting towards your body.

Just following these few tips can help you use the rotary cutter effectively.